Disappointment for Rob Heffernan at Euro Champs

There was disappointment for reigning World Champion Rob Heffernan (Togher AC) as he pulled out of the 50km Race Walk at the European Athletics Championships in Zurich on the 15th of August. Heffernan stepped off the course just before the 40km point unable to stay with the searing pace set by the leaders.

Commenting afterwards Heffernan said “I didn’t feel in control, all the control was taken away from me because of the fast pace. I didn’t want third, even when I was in third, it didn’t appeal to me. “

The race itself proved to the best in history with French athlete Yohann Diniz setting a new World Record of 3.32.33

Commenting on this Heffernan said “The pace was too fast, it broke me, they got their tactics right today and I didn’t. It’s really disappointing. I wanted to win today, nothing else appealed to me.  Mentally it probably wasn’t good today, I’ll have to look at it afterwards, I don’t want to have to analysis it now. I wanted to win today, I wanted to win the European Championships and then when it got away from me, it didn’t appeal to me.”

The leaders from the very beginning Diniz and Mikhail Ryzhov forged through the 20km point in a time of 1.26.55. Heffernan at this point was 26 seconds off the lead and making inroads on the top three athletes. For the Irish fans lining the course thoughts of Heffernan storming through the field, similar to his Moscow heroics last years started to come to mind. However Diniz and Ryzhov continued to steam roll ahead passing 30k in 2.09.20.

The wheels started to come off for Heffernan as the leaders pulled away even more and Heffernan dropped back to sixth place and eventually pulling out just before the 40km point. Frenchman Diniz was literally having the race of his life as he propelled himself to the European title and a World Record of 3.32.33.

Brendan Boyce

There was joy however for Irishman Brendan Boyce (Letterkenny AC) as he placed 16th in a new personal best time of 3.51.34. The time knocked almost three minutes off his old personal best of 3.54.24.

Commenting afterwards he said “The PB is the main thing, in a 50k you can’t really control the field, and you just have to work to your own rhythm. Three minute PB is phenomenal and a step in the right direction. I was going very well up until the final 5k and then agony set in and I just had to grind out the result at the end. It’s all positive heading towards next year.”

1500m

Away from the streets of Zurich City Centre Ireland had three representatives in the 1500m semi-finals going on at the same time. Ciaran O’Lionaird (Leevale AC) and John Travers (Donor Harriers AC) contested semi-final number one with Paul Robinson (St Coca’s AC) in the second. All three athletes needed to be in the top four positions or top four overall fastest to advance to the final.

The leaders in the first semi-final went through the first 400m in 59 seconds with all the main protagonists still in contention. At this stage O’Lionaird was positioning himself well amongst the top six however Travers was already struggling near the back of the pack. The pace remained steady with Moukrime of Belgium taking them through the 1200m point in a time of 2.57.05.

O’Lionaird was still running smoothly however a bit of pushing and barging around the top bend forced him back outside the top four positions. Despite this O’Lionaird continued to battle down the home straight to finish seventh in a time of 3.39.79 and qualify for the final as a fastest loser.  Travers disappointingly finished up 14th in a time of 3.49.73.

Robinson was up next and he took to the track knowing he needed to finish in the top four to guarantee himself in a place in the final. Robinson looked smooth and controlled as he followed the pace set by the early leaders. He never appeared in any distress with the fast early place and positioned himself well within the pack.

Tesfaye of Germany led at the bell in a time of 2.57.51 as all the athletes began to gather themselves for one last big effort. Robinson remained composed and despite getting passed on the home straight he gathered himself and surged down the finishing straight. The surge paid off as he booked his place in the 1500m final placing fourth in a time of 3.39.83.

All eyes now turn to Mark English (UCD AC) as he contests the 800m Final this evening at 18.55